Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Co-cultivation of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis mediates the gut-muscle axis affecting pork quality and flavor","authors":"Zhixin Lin, Xinchen Zhou, Tingting Lu, Wendong An, Shenghao Chen, Suchen Li, Hui Miao, Xinyan Han","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01229-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01229-2","url":null,"abstract":"Pork quality and flavor are critical determinants of consumer preference, yet the role of gut microbiota in shaping meat characteristics remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated how a probiotic consortium (FAM: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis) modulates the gut-muscle axis to enhance pork flavor. In finishing pigs, FAM supplementation significantly increased flavor-associated nucleotides and umami-enhancing amino acids in longissimus dorsi muscle. Metagenomic analysis revealed FAM-driven enrichment of glycan-degrading Prevotella and short-chain fatty acid-producing Phascolarctobacterium, accompanied by reduced antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. Spearman correlation linked Prevotella copri abundance with elevated muscle amino acids, suggesting microbial-encoded CAZymes as key mediators. This study provides the first evidence that probiotic-induced gut microbiota remodeling enhances pork flavor through metabolic cross-talk along the gut-muscle axis. The findings suggest a novel strategy for improving pork quality via dietary interventions targeting gut microbiota.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"10 1","pages":"93"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144533983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grass hay mixed-in creep feed or separately-fed differentially affects digestive development in pre- and post-weaning piglets","authors":"Renjie Yao, Tetske G. Hulshof, Hubèrt M. J. van Hees, An Cools, Mattijs Merckx, Dominiek Maes, Geert P. J. Janssens","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01227-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01227-4","url":null,"abstract":"Based on observations in feral pigs, the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition. This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets either separately or included in their creep feed, combined with nursery diets with or without grass pellet inclusion on growth performance and gastrointestinal development. Thirty-six litters (14–15 piglets per litter) were divided into three equal groups of 12 litters per treatment during the suckling phase: control group (CON) received regular creep feed; GH group received chopped grass hay as-is in separate feeders alongside regular creep feed; PGH group received regular creep feed but barley and wheat were replaced by 28% grass pellets. After weaning (d 23), each litter was split into two dietary treatments in a split-plot design (pre-wean treatment as main plot). Two of the pre-wean diets were also offered until d 14 post-weaning, i.e., CON (CON nursery diet, CON-C, GH-C, PGH-C) and PGH (GH nursery diet, CON-GH, GH-GH, PGH-GH). Thereafter, transitioning to a diet containing 13% wheat/barley or grass pellets, respectively, until d 39 post-weaning. Gastrointestinal morphology, gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and barrier proteins, metabolite profile and microbiota were assessed on the day before weaning, d 10 and d 38 post-weaning. A total of 24 piglets were sacrificed at each dissection point. At weaning, GH group had consumed 7 g/piglet grass hay, and PGH group had consumed 46 g/piglet creep feed. One day before weaning, GH piglets showed heavier emptied small intestine (P = 0.044) and colon (P = 0.065), higher SCFA production in proximal segments and lower SCFA production in colon (P < 0.05). Higher abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group was observed in caecal and colonic content of PGH compared to GH group (P < 0.05), and PGH group showed a lower energy conversion ratio (net energy intake/gain, P = 0.035). Following weaning, GH nursery group had a reduced average daily gain (226 vs. 183 g, P < 0.001) during d 0–14, while this group showed compensatory growth afterwards (P = 0.056). Main plot effects on increased expressions of CLDN3 and FFAR2 were observed in GH and PGH by d 38 post-weaning (P < 0.05). An interaction effect showed greater luminal abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group in GH-GH and PGH-GH groups compared to CON-GH on d 38. The GH nursery diet showed a better energy conversion ratio (P = 0.006) with no influence on body weight and their SCFA production shifted towards proximal segments. In conclusion, feeding a structured and fibre-rich diet to suckling piglets enhance their digestive tract development and adapt their microbiome to fibre digestion in later life. Maintaining a fibre-rich diet from suckling to nursery is recommended, though this come with a transient reduction in weight gain caused by lower feed intake that, however, can be recovered afterwards accompanied with an optimized energy ","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144520781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hermetia illucens oil vs. hydrogenated palm fat in dairy cow nutrition: effects on digestive parameters, oxidative stress, and milk production performance","authors":"Lara Rastello, Laura Gasco, Mauro Coppa, Mathieu Gerbelle, Stefania Colombini, Marco Battelli, Paola Badino, Luca Vernetti-Prot, Pablo G. Toral, Alberto Brugiapaglia, Giulia Gardini, Vanda Malfatto, Isabelle Constant, Alessandro Galli, Christophe Trespeuch, Manuela Renna","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01222-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01222-9","url":null,"abstract":"Scant information is currently available on the use of insect oils in ruminant diets. Insect oils could be used as alternatives to certain conventional plant lipid sources that are considered no longer sustainable. This trial aims at evaluating the effects of the dietary inclusion of Hermetia illucens oil (HIO) vs. hydrogenated palm fat (HPF) on digestive parameters, oxidative stress, and milk production performance of dairy cows. Twenty-six Valdostana Red Pied cows were randomly divided into two groups and fed with hay ad libitum and a concentrate containing 3% (as fed) of either HPF or HIO. The trial lasted 50 d, including two weeks of diet adaptation. Individual feed intake and milk yield were monitored three and four times a week, respectively. Fecal samples were collected at the end (d 50) of the trial to determine total-tract nutrients apparent digestibility. Individual blood samples were collected to evaluate blood plasma metabolites (d 0 and d 50) and oxidative stress parameters (d 0, d 26 and d 50). Milk samples were collected at d 0, d 14, d 26, d 38 and d 50 for chemical composition analysis. Feed efficiency was estimated through feed conversion ratio and residual feed intake (RFI). Data were analyzed by SAS software using a mixed model. The diet had no effect on nutrients intake and apparent total-tract digestibility. However, the dietary inclusion of HIO led to higher milk production (+ 0.82 kg/cow/d; P < 0.05) and slightly lower RFI (−0.008; P < 0.001) when compared to the HPF diet. Milk composition and the nutritional metabolic status of the cows remained unaffected by diet. Serum antioxidant capacity was comparable between the two groups, while lower derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolite concentrations were observed in the HIO-fed cows when compared to the HPF-fed ones (−37.13 Carratelli Units; P < 0.001). The dietary inclusion of HIO instead of HPF did not negatively affect feed palatability and total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients in dairy cows. Furthermore, it increased feed efficiency by supporting a higher milk production together with an improved antioxidant status. The results suggest that HIO could be an eligible option as an innovative energy source for dairy cows.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"182 1","pages":"90"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144488758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circ-0000197 derived from porcine milk small extracellular vesicles promotes intestinal barrier function by sponging miR-429","authors":"Yuxuan Wang, Bilan Chen, Tingzhou Xuan, Kun Ouyang, Jingshen Chen, Hailong Wang, Junyi Luo, Jiajie Sun, Qianyun Xi, Yongliang Zhang, Ting Chen","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01218-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01218-5","url":null,"abstract":"As an essential source of nutrients for young mammals, milk possesses a variety of biological functions. Recently identified milk-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV) have shown potential regulatory effects on intestinal health. Current studies have highlighted the functional roles of milk-derived sEV and their RNA cargo in promoting intestinal health. However, there is a paucity of research demonstrating how milk-derived sEV influence intestinal barrier function through the transport of circRNAs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of porcine milk sEV (PM-sEV) circRNA on intestinal barrier function. We systematically identified the circRNAs involved in this process and analyzed the miRNAs through which PM-sEV deliver circRNAs to regulate intestinal barrier function. Our findings revealed that PM-sEV promote the expression of the intestinal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin, both in vivo (mice) and in vitro (IPEC-J2). When PM-sEV RNA was reduced using ultrasound treatment, their ability to enhance intestinal barrier function was significantly reduced. Bioinformatics analysis showed that circ-0000197, present in PM-sEV, can target miR-429, while miR-429 has the ability to target the 3'-UTR of ZO-1 and Occludin. Furthermore, experiments involving the overexpression or inhibition of the relevant non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) demonstrated that circ-0000197 significantly enhances intestinal barrier function, whereas miR-429 exerts an inhibitory effect on this function. Overall, our findings identify circ-0000197 in PM-sEV as a crucial circRNA that regulates intestinal barrier function by inhibiting miR-429. Circ-0000197 carried by PM-sEV acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that regulates the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin by sponging miR-429, thereby promoting intestinal barrier function at both the cellular and in vivo levels. These findings emphasize the vital role of circRNAs transported through milk-derived sEV in regulating intestinal health, offering new avenues for developing innovative functional milk components. This mechanism also underscores the importance of PM-sEV carrying circ-0000197 in preserving intestinal barrier integrity. Collectively, this study enhances our understanding of the complex regulatory networks involving PM-sEV carrying circRNAs and their impact on intestinal health.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"17 1","pages":"89"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144479233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevotella stercorea increases fat deposition in Jinhua pigs fed alfalfa grass-based diets","authors":"Qifan Zhang, Man Du, Yutian Shen, Xiaoxi Lu, Mingliang Jin, Yizhen Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01217-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01217-6","url":null,"abstract":"Fat is a key component of body composition in both humans and animals, with intramuscular fat (IMF) being a critical determinant of pork quality. Higher IMF level enhances meat qualities such as flavor, tenderness, and juiciness, directly influencing consumer preference and market demand. Therefore, identifying microbial biomarkers associated with fat deposition is essential for improving meat quality in livestock and understanding how gut microbiota regulates host metabolism. In this study, we examined changes in meat quality, fat metabolism, and gut microbiota during the pig life cycle, from weaning to marketing. We found that Jinhua pig exhibited higher IMF content and marbling score, and higher α diversity of colonic microbial communities. Microbiome Multivariate Association with Linear Models was used to identify the core genera associated with age, breed, and feed, and Prevotella was found to respond to both age and breed factors. The correlation analysis of fat deposition indicators with microbial genera revealed that Prevotella was a potential biomarker in response to IMF. In addition, the P. stercorea DSM 18206 (P. stercorea) was identified in porcine sample and administered to pseudo sterile mouse to examine the effect on IMF deposition. We found that the gavage of P. stercorea with alfalfa-enriched diet led to a significant increase in triglyceride (TG) and IMF contents in muscle. Metabolomic analysis further confirmed P. stercorea may potentially regulate fat deposition through the sphingolipid signaling pathway. We identified P. stercorea as a potential biomarker linked to higher IMF deposition and validated their role in shaping the gut microbiota and promoting fat accumulation in a mouse model, which correlated with the sphingolipid signaling pathway. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of P. stercorea in regulating fat deposition and metabolic health, offering implications for improving both livestock meat quality and lipid metabolism in humans.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"36 1","pages":"88"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144371179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the power of swine gut bacteria: newly isolated Blautia strain and its metabolites inhibit the replication of Salmonella Typhimurium in macrophages and alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice","authors":"Jiatong Wei, Yang Liu, Hua Li, Ze Lu, Yanjiao Liu, Yifan Zhang, Cong Lan, Aimin Wu, Jun He, Jingyi Cai, Gang Tian, Daiwen Chen, Bing Yu, Zhiqing Huang, Ping Zheng, Xiangbing Mao, Jie Yu, Junqiu Luo, Hui Yan, Jiayong Tang, Huifen Wang, Quyuan Wang, Yuheng Luo","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01208-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01208-7","url":null,"abstract":"Inflammatory bowel disease is a significant health concern for both humans and large-scale farm animals. In the quest for effective alternatives to antibiotics, next-generation probiotics (NGPs) have emerged as a promising option. The genus Blautia presents a rich source of potential NGP strains. Here we successfully isolated Blautia hominis LYH1 strain from the intestines of healthy weaned piglets and characterized its biological traits. Its anti-inflammatory activity was then assessed using macrophages, while its protective effects against colitis and gut barrier damage were validated in a DSS-induced mouse colitis model. B. hominis LYH1 displayed typical characteristics of an obligate anaerobe, including non-hemolytic and non-motile features, and a genome enriched with carbohydrate-active enzyme genes. It produced metabolites with antibiotic-like compounds, demonstrating antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. In vitro, B. hominis LYH1 effectively inhibited pathogen replication in macrophages, reducing cellular infections and alleviating inflammatory damage. In vivo, oral administration of B. hominis LYH1 or its metabolites significantly mitigated DSS-induced colitis in mice by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting T-lymphocyte activation, and enhancing short-chain fatty acid production. Our findings underscore B. hominis LYH1’s potential as a NGP for maintaining gut health and combating intestinal inflammation. These findings offer valuable insights into the development of antibiotic alternatives and innovative strategies for preventing and treating enteritis in both agricultural and medical settings.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144341361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional strategies for Nile tilapia: protein and carbohydrate balances in saline-alkaline aquaculture","authors":"Wei Liu, Erchao Li, Chang Xu, Liqiao Chen, Xiaodan Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01215-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01215-8","url":null,"abstract":"The development of saline-alkaline water aquaculture is an important part of the development of the global food supply. However, there is still limited knowledge about nutritional strategies for aquaculture in saline-alkaline water, including essential nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates. In this study, our objective was to elucidate the role of different protein-to-carbohydrate ratios in the adaptation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to salinity-alkalinity stress. Fish were fed three isoenergetic (16.5 kJ/g) and isolipidic (60 g/kg) diets with different protein-to-carbohydrate ratios (27% protein and 35% carbohydrate; 35% protein and 25% carbohydrate; 42% protein and 15% carbohydrate) for 50 d. Nile tilapia (0.44 ± 0.03 g) were exposed to both freshwater (salinity: 0.2 PSU; alkalinity: 0.5 g/L NaHCO₃) and saline-alkaline water (salinity: 16.0 PSU; alkalinity: 3.0 g/L NaHCO₃) to observe changes in growth performance, whole-body composition, and antioxidant capacity. To further elucidate the role of protein-to-carbohydrate ratios, we performed gut microbiota and transcriptomic analyses. The results revealed that salinity-alkalinity stress induced oxidative stress, damaged the gill tissue structure, caused hepatocyte cytoplasmic vacuolation, increased the energy demand and the abundance of intestinal pathogens, and ultimately inhibited the growth of tilapia. A diet containing 27% protein and 35% carbohydrate significantly alleviated oxidative stress in tilapia, increased their crude protein content, and ultimately significantly improved the growth performance. Further analyses of the intestinal microbiota and transcriptomics revealed that a diet containing 27% protein and 35% carbohydrate increased the abundance of probiotics in the gut and upregulated energy metabolism pathways related to glucose metabolism. The diet containing 27% protein and 35% carbohydrate increased the abundance of probiotics in the gut, promoted energy metabolism, and improved the growth performance of tilapia under long-term salinity-alkalinity stress. This study evaluated the impact of protein and carbohydrate levels on the growth of tilapia in saline-alkaline water, offering theoretical support for the development of the saline-alkaline water feed industry. This study also highlighted the crucial role of saline-alkaline water aquaculture in global food security and nutritional supply.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144304447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heat stress and the chicken gastrointestinal microbiota: a systematic review","authors":"Chris Major Ncho","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01225-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01225-6","url":null,"abstract":"Heat stress (HS) has become a significant challenge for poultry farming due to an increase in global temperatures. Existing literature suggests that the health effects of HS in chickens are related to its impact on the gastrointestinal tract. While there is evidence of the detrimental consequences of HS on the gut structure, little is known about the effects of HS on the microbial population inhabiting this organ. Fortunately, recent advancements in \"omics\" technologies have made investigating the interaction between HS and the gut microbiota possible. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to assess the effects of HS on chicken gut microbiota. In July 2024, a comprehensive literature search was performed across scientific repositories, including Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Eighteen studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion and a qualitative synthesis of their results was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Current evidence indicates that HS poses a significant challenge to the gastrointestinal system of chickens, resulting in a range of physiological reactions. These changes trigger fierce competition among beneficial microbial species for limited nutrients, promote microbial shifts from obligate to facultative anaerobes, and increase the abundance of microbial species with high resistance to elevated environmental temperatures. Furthermore, the proliferation of pathogens is exacerbated. Ultimately, gut microbiota profiling highlights changes in microbial diversity, alterations in the composition of microbial populations, disruptions in specific microbial functional pathways (tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid metabolism, antioxidant biosynthesis, and fatty acid degradation), and the breakdown of complex networks that govern microbial interactions. Understanding the complex relationship between HS and microbial shifts within the chicken gut can provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable mitigation strategies. Further research is needed to expand the current knowledge and employ more advanced literature synthesis techniques such as meta-analyses. ","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144296291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limosilactobacillus reuteri SXDT-32-derived shikimic acid protects against colonic inflammation in piglets by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway","authors":"Ying Chen, Chengzeng Luo, Zhaohan Zhan, Shuo Liu, Chunran Teng, Ruixiao Mao, Shunfen Zhang, Xunbozan Zhang, Qingshi Meng, Ruqing Zhong, Liang Chen, Hongfu Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01221-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01221-w","url":null,"abstract":"Colitis caused by bacterial infection is a major global health challenge. Unfortunately, current treatment options are limited. We previously disclosed that L. reuteri SXDT-32 was enriched in the feces of an ancient diarrhea-resistant pig breed (Mashen pig) in China over 2500 years old. As diarrhea is often closely associated with intestinal inflammation, L. reuteri SXDT-32 was identified as a potential beneficial bacterium to prevent intestinal inflammation. However, the precise mechanisms involved remained unclear. Our tests showed that L. reuteri SXDT-32 alleviated colonic damage induced by pathogenic E. coli SKLAN202302 in weaned pigs by enhancing barrier integrity and inhibiting inflammation. The transcriptomics revealed that L. reuteri SXDT-32 protected against inflammatory injury by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Metabolite analysis indicated that the content of shikimic acid (SA) was substantially elevated in the colonic mucosa of L. reuteri SXDT-32-fed piglets (P < 0.05). In addition, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS) analysis showed significant increases in SA content in both the colonic chyme of L. reuteri SXDT-32-fed piglets and the supernatant of in vitro grown cultures of L. reuteri SXDT-32 (P < 0.05). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis identified gene aroE from L. reuteri SXDT-32, which is a key gene directly linked to SA synthesis, and elevated shikimate dehydrogenase (SD, encoded by aroE) was also detected in both L. reuteri SXDT-32 and the colonic mucosa of piglets fed L. reuteri SXDT-32 (P < 0.01). In vitro Caco-2 cell experiments demonstrated that SA, L. reuteri SXDT-32, and the supernatant from in vitro grown cultures of L. reuteri SXDT-32 exhibited comparable inhibitory effects on the PI3K-Akt pathway to those of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. L. reuteri SXDT-32 alleviated intestinal inflammation in piglets by producing SA that inhibits the PI3K-Akt pathway. This study provides an innovative approach for the treatment and prevention of colitis caused by bacterial infection.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144278521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of supplementing bile acids on the production performance, fatty acid and bile acid composition, and gut microbiota in transition dairy cows","authors":"Lei Li, Jiaxiao Li, Zhihui Liu, Zihan Jin, Mengyang Wang, Ying Wu, Zhihong Zhang, Xinfeng Hou, Junhu Yao, Jun Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40104-025-01207-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01207-8","url":null,"abstract":"During the transition period, cows are prone to negative energy balance, which can lead to a decline in production performance and health in severe cases. In recent years, it has been discovered that bile acids (BAs) can act not only as fat emulsifiers but also as signaling molecules to regulate body metabolism. Although BAs have been used to some extent in monogastric and aquatic animals, their role in ruminants, particularly in transition cows, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of BAs on the production performance, milk and plasma fatty acid and BA composition, and fecal microbiota in transition dairy cows. Forty-six healthy transition Holstein dairy cows with similar conditions were randomly divided into two groups and supplemented with 0 or 20 g/d of BAs from 21 d before the expected calving to 21 d after calving. The production performance was tracked until 60 d after calving. The results indicated that BA supplementation significantly improved postpartum milk fat content and yields as well as the yields of unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk. There was a significant increase in the concentration of triglyceride and the proportion of C ≤ 16 fatty acids in the plasma of cows supplemented with BAs, while the concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate and the proportion of C > 16 fatty acids in the plasma decreased significantly. BA supplementation significantly altered the composition of the fecal bacterial community and increased the relative abundance of bacteria beneficial for BA metabolism and transformation (Romboutsia, Clostridium sensu_stricto_6, and Clostridium sensu_stricto_1). Functional prediction analysis showed that the relative abundance of bile salt hydrolase, 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and BA inducible E as well as the pathways related to BA metabolism also significantly increased in cows supplemented BAs. In addition, BA supplementation significantly altered the composition of plasma and fecal BAs, particularly increasing circulating secondary BA concentration, which might induce the complete oxidation of fatty acids in the liver and further reduce the concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate. These findings highlight the potential benefits of BA supplementation in improving milk yields and quality, as well as influencing metabolic pathways in transition dairy cows. Meanwhile, further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the broader implications of these results by using more tissue samples.","PeriodicalId":14928,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}